Publication at Faculty of Science |
2011
Abstract
Large areas of temperate mountain spruce forests in Central Europe in National parks Sumava and Bavarian Forest were disturbed by wind throw and bark beetle outbreaks during last two decades. It may seem as a result of ever raising human impact in this area, like recent extensive clear cutting and reforestation practices, or outcome of global change by means of more wind throws, higher drought stress or lower resistance to pathogens.
However, there is historical evidence of major wind throws in last centuries followed by bark beetle outbreaks, similar to ongoing one. It indicates that such disturbances may as well be within the historical range of variability (HRV) of forest dynamics.